Attachable sensor for putting stroke path and plane detection

ABSTRACT

A putter trainer device for detecting inaccuracies in a golf puffing stroke. The puffing trainer device of the present invention is releasably ( 2 ) attached to a shaft of a golf putter and comprises two guided ramps ( 19 A,  19 B) with each ramp having an active position and a neutral position. In one embodiment, a free rolling disc magnet ( 20 A,  20 B) is located upon each guided ramp and each free rolling disc magnet is biased towards the neutral position ( 23 A,  23 B) on its respective ramp. The movement of either free rolling magnet from the neutral position to the active position is detected by magnetic reed switches ( 25 A,  25 B) located adjacent each ramp. A speaker is activated when the magnetic reed switches detect that either free rolling magnet has moved from the neutral position to the active position.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a device for detecting inaccuracies in apuffing stroke for the game of golf. In particular, this inventionrelates to a sensor that detects imperfections in smoothness of stroke,path of the putter head and face angle of the club head during a puttingstroke.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The game of golf is one of the most popular recreational sports in theworld in terms of participants. The popularity of golf does not meanthat the game is easy. Golf requires consistent precision of movement toachieve mastery of the game. Subtle imperfections in the execution ofstrokes produce amplified errors in the outcome of the shot.

Being able to putt in a technically correct manner is of vitalimportance to all golfers from the high handicap, weekend club player tothe professional, as putting is where most strokes are dropped during around. This is acknowledged in one of the most commonly used phrases onthe golf course, “drive for show, putt for dough”. Putting is also oneof the hardest aspects of the game to master. There are four maintechnical inaccuracies that are common among players. These inaccuraciescause inconsistent swings and hence missed putts.

-   -   1. Professionals cite rotation of the wrists during back swing,        the transition from back swing to forward swing, or forward        swing resulting in rotation of the club in a direction axial to        the vertical axis as the primary reason for inaccurate putting        strokes. The club head should remain perpendicular to the        intended line of travel of the ball during the backstroke.    -   2. Another reason for inaccurate putting is due to deviation of        the club head from the intended line of the putt. The putter        should trace a straight line from the start of the back swing,        through to the transition from back swing to forward swing and        back through the forward swing to contact with the ball.    -   3. A further reason cited for inaccurate putts is due to        accelerating too quickly during back swing and/or forward swing.        Ideally, smooth acceleration and deceleration should be achieved        at all times during back swing, forward swing and the transition        between the two.    -   4. Rotation of the club head in a direction axial to the        intended line of travel of the ball is a further technical        inaccuracy in player's putting strokes. The club head should        remain approximately parallel with the horizontal plane at all        times during the stroke.

Most players generally seek the services of a professional to detectinaccuracies in their putting stroke and to correct them. A player thenneeds to practice these corrected putting techniques and implement theadvice received through repetitive practice. Not only is this method ofputting swing correction expensive, it is also often ineffective. Whenthe player is practising the correct stroke, without supervision fromtheir coach, bad habits tend to creep back into their action and theplayer spends his or her time practicing a technically incorrect stroke.

A more convenient and cost effective solution is for the player to use adevice that monitors his stroke during practice and alerts them when astroke is technically inaccurate. In this way, a player can repetitivelypractice a correct stroke and mirror it during a game.

There is a large body of prior art that attempts to address the aboveproblem. U.S. Pat. No. 4,930,787 (the '787 patent), in the name ofNobles, discloses a device for attachment to a putter which produces asignal during a puffing stroke if the longitudinal axis of the putterhead is rotated out of parallel with the horizontal plane or when theputter head undergoes any clockwise or counter clockwise rotation on thebackstroke.

The putting trainer of the '787 patent is designed to be fixed, by meansof screws or other fastening means, to the backside of the putter.Hence, a player using this device requires a special training putter tofix the device. It is probable that this putter would have differentweight and balance characteristics to a putter the golfer would useduring a game. It should be appreciated that it is of greater benefit topractice with a putter that will be used during a game and hence thedevice of the '787 patent does not effectively address the problemslisted above.

Furthermore, the device of the '787 patent does not address the pathdeviation problem, as mentioned above. Thus, the club head can trace anypath during the back swing and no stroke error will be indicated. Hence,the device disclosed in the '787 patent, is deficient in solving theproblems of putting stroke inaccuracies as discussed above.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,561 (the '561 patent), in the name of Conley,discloses and claims a putting stroke training device comprising aninertial sensor for detecting movement in a direction parallel to theplane of the club face and rotation of the club head in a directionaxial to the longitudinal axis of the shaft during putting. The sensorincludes an elongated arm mounted on a pivot point which is orientatedin a direction perpendicular both to the longitudinal axis of the shaftof the club and also to the plane of the club face.

The design of the device of the '561 patent necessitates that it beinstalled within the shaft of a putter. This is an obvious deficiency ofthe device as again, a player must practice with one club with thedevice installed, and play with a separate club. Hence, as the practiceclub and playing club will no doubt have different balance points andcharacteristics, the benefits of putting practice using this device anda practice putter are lost.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,441,269 (the '269 patent), in the name of Henwood,discloses a putting stroke training device that detects when the putterhead has accelerated or decelerated too quickly, as in technicalinaccuracy 3 described above, and also when the putter head is rotatedaxially around the vertical axis at the moment of contact between theball and the club head. This device uses a pendulum actuator and animpact actuator to sense technical faults in the putting stroke.

The device of the '269 patent does not adequately address the problemsof stroke inaccuracy as it measures only axial rotation of the club headaround the vertical axis at the moment of contact. Hence, a player mayexecute a stroke that causes the club to rotate axially around thevertical axis during back swing, but may correct this inaccuracy duringforward swing before contact that would not be considered a technicallycorrect stroke but the device disclosed in the '269 patent would give noindication to the player of the stroke error.

Furthermore, the device of the '269 patent must be either installedwithin a cavity in a hollow club head, or secured on top of a club headby means of screws or similar fastening devices. Hence, it also requirespracticing putting strokes using a putter that would not be used duringplay. There is minimal benefit in practicing with a putter havingdifferent characteristics to that of a putter used during a game.

Hence, there remains the need for a device for detecting inaccuracies inputting strokes such as those listed above. Furthermore, this devicemust be capable of being easily attached and unattached to a player'sputter so that the same club can be used by a player in practice and ingames. The advantage of such a device is that a player can detect andcorrect technical inaccuracies in their putting stroke and play a roundof golf using the same club that has been used to practice shotscorrectly.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the putting training device of the current invention is tosolve one or more of the technical inaccuracies of golfers' puttingstrokes as defined in the background statement. A further object of theinvention is to provide a useful alternative to the known prior art.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

In one form, although it need not be the only or indeed the broadestform, the invention resides in a putting trainer device comprising:

at least one track having a neutral position and an active position;

a free moving component located on said track and movable along saidtrack between said neutral position and said active position, said freemoving component being biased to said neutral position on said track;

at least one detector operable by said free moving component moving tosaid active position of said track; and

at least one indicator in electrical communication with said detector;

wherein, said indicator issues an alert when said detector is operatedby said free moving component moving to said active position on saidtrack.

Preferably, said track is a guided ramp inclined from said neutralposition to said active position.

Preferably, said free moving component is a disc magnet.

Suitably, said detector is a magnetic reed switch located adjacent saidguided ramp and aligned substantially parallel to said guided ramp.

Optionally, said free moving component is an electrically conductiveball bearing.

Alternatively, said detector is an electrical conductor located on saidguided ramp at said active position.

Preferably, said electrical communication is by means of a printedcircuit board.

Preferably, said indicator is a speaker.

Optionally, said indicator is a light.

Alternatively, said indicator is a vibration device.

Suitably, said device is attachable to a shaft of a putter and pivotablewith respect to said shaft.

Optionally, a level of inclination from said neutral position to saidactive position on said guided ramps may be adjusted.

Optionally, a levelling pendulum is located within said putting trainerdevice.

Preferably, there are two said tracks orientated substantiallyperpendicular to each other.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an isometric view of a putting trainer device according toan embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the putting trainer device shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a sectional side view of the putting trainer device shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a sectional top view of the putting trainer device shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic of a circuit comprising part of the puttingtraining device shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for detecting inaccuracies ina putting stroke for the game of golf. In particular, this inventionrelates to a device that detects imperfections in smoothness of stroke,path of the putter head and face angle of the club head during a puttingstoke. The device comprises a means for detecting stroke imperfectionsand a means for indicating when a stroke imperfection has been detected.The putting training device is attached to the shaft of the putter justabove the putting head by the means of attachment discussed below.Throughout this description, like numerals are used to refer to the sameelements of the invention shown in multiple figures.

One embodiment of the present invention is described below withreference to FIGS. 1-5. Where appropriate, the figure which bests showsthe aspect under discussion is referred to. Where no figure is directlyreferred to it can be inferred that this aspect is present in multiplefigures.

With reference to FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3, and FIG. 4, an embodiment ofthe putting trainer device 1 of the present invention is shown. Puttingtrainer device 1 has a crescent shaped clip attachment means 2 forfixing the putting training device to the shaft 100 of a putter. Theattachment means 2 is connected to the detection and indication housingcomponent 3 by way of a pivot 4. Pivot 4 enables vertical movement ofthe housing component relative to the attachment means and also rotationin a direction axial to the longitudinal axis of the putter head whenattached to a putter shaft 100.

The housing component 3 is triangularly shaped with rounded vertices.The housing component 3 comprises two interlocking sections, top section5 and bottom section 6, fastened by an appropriate means, in this casebeing a screw 7 through screw hole 8 in bottom section 6 and terminatinginside threaded elongated cavity 9 of protruding elongated section 10which is integrally formed with top interlocking section 5.

The bottom interlocking section 6 further comprises a power switch (notshown), protruding pendulum cavity 12 integrally formed with bottomsection 6, battery contact 13, a protruding speaker cavity (not shown)integrally formed with section 6 and guided ramp adjustment screws 14Aand 14B. The top interlocking section 5 further comprises a levellingpendulum 15, two clear protruding observation components, 16A and 16B,and a clear protruding pendulum observation component 17.

Pivot 4 is used in conjunction with levelling pendulum 15 and pendulumobservation component 17 to level the putting device in the horizontalplane. As many putting shafts are not exactly vertical, this featureensures that the putting training device 1 of the present invention issubstantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the putter head(not shown) in the horizontal plane.

The bottom interlocking housing section 6 has attached a printed circuitboard 18, speaker 26, guided ramps, 19A and 19B, and one free movingcomponent located on each ramp. In this embodiment the free movingcomponent is in the form of free rolling disc magnets, 20A and 20B.Guided ramps 19A and 19B are fixed at an angle that is at 45 degrees tothe longitudinal axis of the putter club head in the horizontal planeand are substantially perpendicular to each other.

The guided ramps, 19A and 19B, have elongated threaded cavities, 22A and22B, in which guided ramp adjustment screws, 14A and 14B, terminate.Elongated threaded cavities, 22A and 22B, are formed within guidedramps, 19A and 19B, distal from disc magnet neutral positions 23A and23B respectively. Guided ramp attachment screws, 24A and 24B, arelocated within guided ramps, 19A and 19B, distal from disc magnetneutral positions 23A and 23B respectively.

Guided ramps 19A and 19B are inclined from disc magnet neutral positions23A and 23B to disc magnet active positions 11A and 11B located onguided ramps 19A and 19B distal from disc magnet neutral positions. Theangle of this incline is altered by the tightening or loosening ofguided ramp adjustment screws 14A and 14B. Movement of free rolling discmagnets 20A and 20B from disc magnet neutral positions 23A and 23B in adirection along guided ramps 19A and 19B to disc magnet active positions11A and 11B is detected by magnetic reed switches 25A and 25B located onprinted circuit board 18.

The magnetic reed switches 25A and 25B are aligned substantiallyparallel to the longitudinal axis of guided ramps 19A and 19B andlocated adjacent disc magnetic active positions 11A and 11Brespectively. These switches are biased open, meaning that no circuit iscomplete. Upon detection of a repulsive magnetic force the switchesclose and the circuit shown in FIG. 5 is completed. A person skilled inthe art will appreciate that when the circuit is completed, either byclosing reed switch 25A and/or by closing reed switch 25B, an alert willbe issued by speaker 26 as these switches are in parallel. This will bediscussed in more detail below.

Furthermore, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the freerolling disc magnets 20A and 20B will not cause magnetic reed switches25A and 25B to close when these magnets are positioned in disc magnetneutral positions 23A and 23B. This is due to the nature of a magneticfield around a disc and the strength of the magnetic force associatedwith each of disk magnets 20A and 20B.

Upon detection of movement of disc magnets 20A and 20B away from discmagnet neutral positions 23A and 23B to disc magnet active positions 11Aand 11B by magnetic reed switches 25A and 25B, an indication is given,providing that the power switch, not shown, is in the ON position andthat there is an appropriate power source connected to the electricalcircuit of printed circuit board 18 such as by means of a batteryinserted in battery contact 13. The indication may be visual, audible ortactile. In the present embodiment of the putting training device 1,indication is given by means of a digital speaker 26 as shown in theschematic of FIG. 5. Speaker 26 is in electrical communication withmagnetic reed switches 25A and 25B via printed circuit board 18. Wheneither or both magnetic reed switches 25A and 25B are closed the circuitis complete and an electrical signal is propagated to the speaker 26causing a sound to be created.

Detection of movement of the magnetic discs along the guided ramps isthe primary mechanism for detection of technical inaccuracies in aputting stroke. The putting training device of the present inventiondetects the four technical inaccuracies as discussed in the backgroundsection.

It will be appreciated that as the putting training device is located onthe putter shaft 100 just above the club head that the movement of theputting trainer device closely mimics the movement of the club head.Hence, it will be appreciated that the device of the present inventionmimics the movement of the putter head.

Rotation of the wrists during the back swing, forward swing ortransition between the two produces rotation of the putter club head ina direction axial to the vertical axis. This rotation imparts arotational force on the putting trainer device.

Consider if, during the back swing, the club head is rotated gentlyaxially around the vertical axis such that the club head rotates in aclockwise direction from a top perspective. At the moment of transitionfrom back swing to forward swing the velocity of the club head is zeroas the force applied to the club head by the player through the shafthas changed from back swing to forward swing. In this case, the angleformed by guided ramp 19A and the line of intended travel of the ball isdecreased. At the transition stroke momentum is imparted on the freemoving disc magnet. A perfect stroke would result in no movement of thefree disc magnet as the frictional resistance provided by the walls ofguided ramp 19A and the gravitational resistance of the slope of theramp would provide enough resistance to counter this force. In therotational situation described above, the guided ramp 19A is aligned ina direction close to the line of intended path of travel of the golfball. In this situation the resistance offered by the walls of theguided ramp 19A is less as the effective line of force has changed dueto the rotation of the club head. If this rotation is great enough theforce from the change in momentum imparted on the free rolling discmagnet 20A will be enough to overcome the resistance offered by thewalls and the slope of the guided ramp 19A, thus the free rolling discmagnet 20A will move away from the disc magnet neutral position 23A, todisc magnet active position 11A, and will close magnetic reed switch 25Acausing an indication of swing error to be communicated to the golfer.

Similar mechanics of motion apply to all axial movement around thevertical axis for the putting training device and hence detection of allaxial motion is possible using the same principles as described above.

As discussed in the background section, deviation perpendicular to theintended line of travel of the ball is another technical flaw ingolfers' putting strokes. For example, consider that during a back swingthe putter head deviates perpendicularly from the intended line oftravel of the golf ball in a direction way from the player putting. Aperfect stroke would only have forces acting in the direction of theintended line of travel of the golf ball and, as discussed, this forceis not sufficient to move the free rolling disc magnets 20A and 20B fromtheir neutral positions 23A and 23B to their active positions 11A and11B. In the deviation situation described above, a momentum force isapplied in a direction perpendicular to the intended line of travel ofthe golf ball at the transition stroke. If this force is large enough toovercome the frictional forces of guided ramp 19A and the gravitationalforce imparted by the slope of guided ramp 19A then free rolling discmagnet 20A will move away from the disc magnet neutral position 23A, todisc magnet active position 11A, and will close magnetic reed switch25A.

Similar principles apply to movement of the club head perpendicular tothe line of intended travel of the golf ball in the direction of theplayer making the putt.

As discussed in the background section, players can miss putts becausethey tend to accelerate and decelerate the club head too erraticallyduring the stroke. The putter training device of the current inventionis capable of detecting when a player's stroke is not smooth enough.

A person skilled in the art would appreciate the fact that a body underacceleration has a force associated with it, the magnitude of whichdepends on its mass and level of acceleration. If the acceleration ordeceleration of the putter head is excessive, the momentum forceimparted on the free rolling disc magnets 20A and 20B will be greatenough to overcome the resistive forces of the guided ramps 19A and 19Band the gravitational force applied by the slopes of the guided ramps onthe free moving disc magnets. Hence, the free rolling disc magnets 20Aand 20B will move away from the disc magnet neutral positions 23A and23B, to disc magnet active positions 11A and 11B respectively, and willclose magnetic reed switches 25A and 25B respectively.

Depending on the direction of the acceleration and deceleration of anincorrect swing, either free rolling disc magnet 20A will move, freerolling disc magnet 20B will move or both will move causing thecorresponding reed switches too close and thus initiating the indicationmeans.

A further technical defect that is present in golf players' puttingstrokes is that they tend to rotate the club head in an axial directionaround the line of the intended path of the golf ball. In this regard, aperfect stroke would have zero rotation of the longitudinal axis of theputter club head around the line of the intended path of the ball.

The golf putting trainer of the present invention is also able to detectrotation of this type and indicate its occurrence to the player. Forexample, consider the situation when a putter is rotated axially to theline of the intended path of travel of the ball in a direction so thatthe end of the puffer head distal from the shaft is lower than the endproximal to the shaft. In this situation, if the angle of rotation isgreat enough, free rolling disc magnet 20A will move away from discmagnet neutral position 23A, to disc magnet active position 11A, as thedisc magnet overcomes the resistive forces of guided ramp 19A and theslope of this ramp is diminished due to this rotation. Hence, magneticreed switch 25A will close and thus initiating the indication means. Asimilar result will occur for disc magnet 20B if rotation occurs in theother axial direction.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that a combination of one ormore of the motions discussed above will not impede the accuratedetection and indication of technical inaccuracies in a putting strokeby the puffing trainer device of the present invention.

As previously mentioned, the sensitivity of the golf putting trainer 1can be altered by changing the inclination of the guided ramps 19A and19B. This is an advantage as the device caters for all levels ofgolfers, from the weekend player to the professional. Furthermore, thedevice can be altered to increase the sensitivity as a player's puttingtechnique improves. Thus, the perfect stroke for that player will becomemore difficult to attain and hence the skill level of the player will beincreased.

It will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that the freemoving disc magnet and magnetic reed switches are not the only means ofdetection for the present invention. In alternative embodiment of thepresent invention, using the same principles described above it ispossible to replace the disc magnets with ball bearings. In thisembodiment an electrical conductor is located at the active position onthe guided ramps and the movement of the ball to the active positionwould, upon contact with the electrical conductor at the activeposition, complete an electrical circuit to initiate the indicationmeans.

Throughout the specification the aim has been to describe the preferredembodiments of the invention without limiting the invention to any oneembodiment or specific collection of features. Thus the invention shouldbe limited only in accordance with the following claims.

1. A putter trainer device comprising: a first track having a firstneutral position and a first active position; a first component locatedon said first track, said first component being movable along said firsttrack between said first neutral position and said first activeposition, said first component being biased to said first neutralposition on said first track; a first detector operable by said firstcomponent moving to said first active position of said first track; asecond track having a second neutral position and a second activeposition; a second component located on said second track, said secondcomponent being moveable along said second track between said secondneutral position and said second active position, said second componentbeing biased to said second neutral position on said second track; asecond detector operable by said second component moving to said secondactive position of said second track; and an indicator in electricalcommunication with said first detector and said second detector;wherein, said indicator issues an alert when said first detector isoperated by said first component moving to said first active position onsaid first track or said second component moving to said second activeposition on said second track; wherein said first component is a discmagnet.
 2. The putting trainer device of claim 1, wherein said firsttrack is a guided ramp inclined from said first neutral position to saidfirst active position.
 3. The putting trainer device of claim 2, whereinsaid first detector is an electrical conductor located on said guidedramp at said first active position.
 4. The putting trainer device ofclaim 1, wherein said electrical communication is by means of a printedcircuit board.
 5. The putting trainer device of claim 1, wherein saidindicator comprises at least one of a speaker, a light, and a vibrationdevice.
 6. The putting trainer device of claim 1, wherein said firsttrack and said second track are orientated substantially perpendicularto each other.
 7. The putting trainer device of claim 1, wherein saidfirst track has a centrally disposed linear first axis extending alongthe length thereof and said second track has a centrally disposed linearsecond axis extending along the length thereof, said first axis and saidsecond axis intersecting to form an inside angle that is less than 180°.8. A putter trainer device comprising: a first track having a firstneutral position and a first active position; a first component locatedon said first track, said first component being movable along said firsttrack between said first neutral position and said first activeposition, said first component being biased to said first neutralposition on said first track; a first detector operable by said firstcomponent moving to said first active position of said first track; asecond track having a second neutral position and a second activeposition; a second component located on said second track, said secondcomponent being moveable along said second track between said secondneutral position and said second active position, said second componentbeing biased to said second neutral position on said second track; asecond detector operable by said second component moving to said secondactive position of said second track; and an indicator in electricalcommunication with said first detector and said second detector;wherein, said indicator issues an alert when said first detector isoperated by said first component moving to said first active position onsaid first track or said second component moving to said second activeposition on said second track; wherein said first track is a guided rampinclined from said first neutral position to said first active position;and wherein said first detector is a magnetic reed switch locatedadjacent said guided ramp and aligned substantially parallel to saidguided ramp.
 9. A putter trainer device comprising: a first track havinga first neutral position and a first active position; a first componentlocated on said first track, said first component being movable alongsaid first track between said first neutral position and said firstactive position, said first component being biased to said first neutralposition on said first track; a first detector operable by said firstcomponent moving to said first active position of said first track; asecond track having a second neutral position and a second activeposition; a second component located on said second track, said secondcomponent being moveable along said second track between said secondneutral position and said second active position, said second componentbeing biased to said second neutral position on said second track; asecond detector operable by said second component moving to said secondactive position of said second track; and an indicator in electricalcommunication with said first detector and said second detector;wherein, said indicator issues an alert when said first detector isoperated by said first component moving to said first active position onsaid first track or said second component moving to said second activeposition on said second track; wherein said first track is a guided rampinclined from said first neutral position to said first active position;and wherein said guided ramp is attached to a housing surface so as toform an inside angle therebetween, and wherein said guided ramp ismovable between a first ramp position and a second ramp position so asto adjust said inside angle such that a level of inclination from saidfirst neutral position to said first active position on said guided rampis adjusted.
 10. The putting trainer device of claim 9, furthercomprising an adjustment screw threaded into said guided ramp, whereinthe angle between said guided ramp and said housing is changed byrotating said adjustment screw.
 11. A putter trainer device comprising:a first track having a first neutral position and a first activeposition; a first component located on said first track, said firstcomponent being movable along said first track between said firstneutral position and said first active position, said first componentbeing biased to said first neutral position on said first track; a firstdetector operable by said first component moving to said first activeposition of said first track; a second track having a second neutralposition and a second active position; a second component located onsaid second track, said second component being moveable along saidsecond track between said second neutral position and said second activeposition, said second component being biased to said second neutralposition on said second track; a second detector operable by said secondcomponent moving to said second active position of said second track;and an indicator in electrical communication with said first detectorand said second detector; wherein, said indicator issues an alert whensaid first detector is operated by said first component moving to saidfirst active position on said first track or said second componentmoving to said second active position on said second track; and furthercomprising a leveling pendulum disposed therein.